Preparing for winter IV

BritishBibliophile

Hoped I'd manage to get 4 lasagnes but there was only enough bolognese for 3 Nevermind, at least they're now done and in the freezer, just need to hold off as long as possible before eating one (it's one of my favourite pasta dishes).

Shorts and skirts are in the laundry to be washed and then they'll go back in the wardrobe for another year. I prefer jeans but they're just too hot in summer, it's nice to be able to go back to them

dingdongsaving

I've been making my cooler weather favs for dinners for the last couple of weeks even though it's been lovely and warm! Sausages, casseroles, stews and dumplings, jacket spuds, chilli...mmmm...also cracking out some more apples from our tree to make a crumble to go with tea tonight.

Today we've had the kitchen windows and doors open while we pootled in the garden.

I always have a bit of a mass clean and clear-out in September, and that's happened this week as we've had a new kitchen put in and a utility room/loo added at the back of the house and it certainly left us needing a good organise and dust anyway!

Also started our cool-weather prep:

*Heated sheets on ours and ds beds & warm PJs/onesie for ds/warmer grow-bag for dd are at the ready.
*Basket of cosy blankets between the sofa and chairs
*CH tested (but always aim Halloween before we use it)
*"Coat Box" is out and everything is hung by the front door or in our winter basket (coats, scarves, gloves and hats for everyone)
*DS has new wellies (and I got some this year too )
*Got my traditional Yankee candles ready for snuggling in the evenings. A pure luxury, but I adore them, and hubby and I always light them as soon as we're home and it's dark once the weather cools down. They always smell so lovely - this year we've got "Warm Blanket" and "Amber Moon".

That's pretty much it so far.

Pruning, our winter hanging basket and putting the patio furniture away will have to wait until it's cooler, but we are planting some new bulbs during 1/2 term. DS always loves choosing and planting bulbs and adding to the basket and pots by the front door so that everything's still cheery even when it's cold.

Lovely to see this thread again! xx

Frith

List for me!


- order first tonne of logs
- put pallet in place to put the logs on (old pallet that had seen me through 10 years rotted away!)
- new slippers for both sons
- sort allotment out
- check antifreeze in car again (it boiled over in the middle of Hereford's traffic this year so was topped up with water from Frankie and Benny's! I've slopped in some antifreeze but it'll need more)
- check torches


won't need to get the chimney swept. :-/ At the beginning of the year, I swept it myself and the chimney liner fell down into the living room as no one had put in a hanging cowl when it was fitted.... I was able to drag it out on the patio and sweep it on the ground!


- am gathering apples etc and stewing and freezing them. Have also done pickled gherkins and beetroots and am hanging on to pick the sloes for some gin.


Can't think of any other jobs for now.

Fruball

Just a quick reminder to stock up on essentials should you become poorly and not be able to go out for a few days (at least).

Cough/cold remedies (most have a couple of years shelf life so they will keep if you don't need them), painkillers, 0lbas oil/vap0rub to keep you more comfortable and some easy to prepare meals. I always keep in some of those pouches of microwaveable rice in case I get a sick bug and need something plain and easy to digest.

Also, register with your local milkman (https://www.milkandmore.co.uk) so you are able to order in supplies if needs be.

I am sure there are other things that should be added to that but am ill myself at the moment and those are the things I have been glad of!

I have also taught my 8yr old how to cook/reheat simple things and use the microwave so she can help out when necessary.

Being prepared for the worst is the difference between being ill and comfortable or being ill and very miserably uncomfortable!

pigpen

I just did this last week and today reaping the benefits.. DIL was round yesterday, shared her cold so there are 4 of us currently snotting and snuffling.. I tend to purchase 2 boxes of paracetamol/ibuprofen cold and flu stuff every time I do a shop all year round and get the odd bottle or 3 of calpol too. The boots here knows I have a few children so will sell me more than they are supposed to which is very nice of them.

bossymoo

We've had the snots here too but I made elderberry syrup recently :T and had some vitamins brought in our Mr S delivery. I did check the medicine box last week, and we are well kitted out.

Nothing worse than going out for tissues and remedies when you just want to stay in bed...

Maybe consider a flu vaccine too?

kezlou

Have to admit we've had the gas fire on a couple of mornings, been absolutely hortensia wind and biting cold. The weekend hasn't been to bad.
Took ages to dry clothes with the wet weather.

Ds2 is very happy with his knitted dinosaur thermal snowboarding hat. He loves it. One battle down *phew*

Cupboard is looking healthy so will keep slowly adding to stocks.
Snake done, blankets all washed and dried ready for winter.


Kittie thanks for the heads up

Lol the weather says heatwave for everyone apart from teesside, typical as that's where we live. But on the plus side we might get some cracking storms
Sorry but we love autumn.

Made a huge pan of pinaccalti today for dinner, kids and oh have demolished it all. They absolutely loved it. Brings back lovely memories of my childhood.
Along with lashing of bread to soak up the gravy, perfect for chilly evenings.

AW how cute asking when its going to snow, love little ones x

pigpen

bossymoo wrote: »

Maybe consider a flu vaccine too?

nah.. its pointless.. protects against very few strains of flu, and we don't do vaccines in here. Everyone I know who has it is horrifically ill within a few months.. having had flu once 25 years ago I'll take my chances .. informed choice and all.

quidsy

Made a 1kg bag of value frozen mince, a couple of onions, 3 oxo cubes & some garlic powder in the slow cooker yesterday, left it on low all day & out came a fantastic mince & onion base. I have split it into 2 Tupperware's & oh will make a bolognaise tonight for us when they get back from school, will be with a value jar of sauce & a few mushrooms.

Later in the week I will add frozen peas carrots & a bit of gravy granules & plan on doing some slow cooked new potato's to go with.

Now the weather is turning colder the sc will get used more, in the summer we just can't stomach using it for much.

Also this week will try to get a big soup batch in for later in the week. My ds LOVES soup, leek & potato & spicy parsnip being his favs, he is also partial to Italian wedding but it is quite tricky to make & requires a lot of ingredients so I buy it on offer when it comes up.

[Deleted User]

I'm a great believer in prevention being better than cure so if there's a vaccination available we'll ALWAYS take advantage of it and have it. At the very least it will give you a lighter case of whatever the illness it protects you from is. It is a very useful tool in any bad season to limit the spread of whatever the current strain of flu is too. Look at something like Ebola, and I know that's an extreme to make a comparison with but if there had been a vaccine available for that many peoples lives might have been saved in the outbreak. The flu vaccine isn't a guarantee that you won't get the flu as there are so many different strains circulating but it might just help you through the one that is prevalent and most likely to be what you catch.